GAMMA

Abstract

In photography, video, and computer graphics, the gamma symbol, γ , represents a numerical parameter that describes the nonlinearity of intensity reproduction. Gamma is a mysterious and confusing subject, because it involves concepts from four disciplines: physics, perception, photography, and video. This chapter explains how gamma is related to each of these disciplines. Having a good understanding of the theory and practice of gamma will enable you to get good results when you create, process, and display pictures.